Newcastle Council Bans Climate Group Rising Tide from Using Public Land

The Newcastle City Council has officially prohibited the climate activist group Rising Tide from hosting any future events on council-managed land. This decision follows intense pressure from the New South Wales state government, with Premier Chris Minns warning that local authorities could be viewed as complicit in any illegal activities associated with the group’s protests.

Newcastle, which serves as the hub for the world’s largest coal export port, has become a frequent flashpoint for climate demonstrations. The council’s decision was finalized on Tuesday night when Lord Mayor Gavin Morris utilized his casting vote to block the licensing of Rising Tide events. In a mayoral minute, Morris argued that the organization had severely damaged the trust of the local community by consistently disregarding police directives during past demonstrations.

Premier Minns had previously expressed strong concerns, suggesting that allowing the group to utilize public space would imply official endorsement of their tactics. The state government’s stance reflects a broader tension between the right to protest and the maintenance of public order, particularly in areas critical to the national economy, such as the Newcastle coal port.

Rising Tide has been a vocal critic of the fossil fuel industry, often organizing large-scale actions aimed at disrupting port operations to highlight the climate crisis. By banning the group from council land, the local government is attempting to curb these disruptions and distance itself from the potential legal and logistical fallout of the protests. However, the move has sparked debate regarding the limits of local government authority and the protection of civil liberties, with activists likely to challenge the decision as an infringement on their right to assemble and voice dissent.

Sources: The Guardian World